Dyeing apparatus and process

ABSTRACT

An improved apparatus for the pressing of piles of textile windings mounted on compressible supports, the supports themselves being mounted on spindles affixed to the material support of a dyeing machine, the improved apparatus including a pressing member and a pressure distributing member composed of two metallic plates, upper and lower respectively, connected by rigid elements, the lower plate being provided with perforations, over each of which is provided a guiding element. Such apparatus can additionally contain cupping rings on top of the piles of windings and a device to lock each pile in a compressed state. By utilizing such apparatus a process is provided whereby stacks or piles of textile windings are uniformly compressed under the same pressure so that irregular circulation of the dyeing bath through the windings is minimized and a more even dyeing of the textile windings results.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Christian Caire Tignleu, France [21] Appl. No. 811,451 [22] Filed Mar. 28. 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, I971 [73] Assignee Moulinage ct Retorderie de Chavanoz Chavanoz, France [54] DYEING APPARATUS AND PROCESS 6 Claims, 3 Drawing figs.

[52] 11.8. Cl. 100/221, 8/155, 68/189. 100/295 [51] int. Cl. B30b 15/02 [50] Field 0! Search 68/198, 189, 122; 8/154, 155, 155.1, 155.2; 100/214, 221, 298

[56) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,374,628 4/1921 Ashworth 68/189 2,831,747 4/1958 Gould 8/155 FOREIGN PATENTS 390,950 1908 France Primary ExaminerPeter Feldman Anorney-Sherman and Shalloway ABSTRACT: An improved apparatus for the pressing of piles of textile windings mounted on compressible supports, the supports themselves being mounted on spindles affixed to the material support of a dyeing machine, the improved apparatus including a pressing member and a pressure distributing member composed of two metallic plates, upper and lower respectively, connected by rigid elements, the lower plate being provided with perforations, over each of which is provided a guiding element. Such apparatus can additionally contain cupping rings on top of the piles of windings and a device to lock each pile in a compressed state. By utilizing such apparatus a process is provided whereby stacks or piles of textile windings are uniformly compressed under the same pressure so that irregular circulation of the dyeing bath through the windings is minimized and a more even dyeing of the textile windings results.

PATENTEB SEPMISYI 3,604 346 sum '1 or 2 FIG. I

mvmwoa CHRIST/AN (AIRE BY Cu/MM Shadow a7 ATTORNEYS DYEING APPARATUS AND PROCESS The present invention relates to a novel apparatus for the dyeing of textile windings mounted on compressible supports; more particularly, the present invention relates to such apparatus wherein more uniform dyeings are produced through means which provide an even distribution of pressure on the entire assembly of textile windings.

Textile windings are conventionally dyed by mounting the same on compressible supports which are slipped on spindles affixed to the holder or material support of a dyeing machine. Such spindles affixed to the holder or material support of the dyeing machine are generally in the form of either perforated tubes called clarinets or star-shaped cross section rods called bayonets. In conventional dyeing processes using well-known apparatus, the spindles are usually extended or lengthened by false spindles so as to pile up the maximum or greatest number of windings. The stack of windings is capped with a cup and the windings are compressed axially. After compression the false spindles, which are then unnecessary, are removed and the cup is affixed by means of a screwable or similar stopper. Such a process and apparatus for the dyeing of textile windings is somewhat cumbersome and time consuming in that the operation described above must be repeated for each individual spindle. This, accordingly, results in great time losses during the filling of the dyeing machine.

Additionally, in order to obtain uniform, even dyeing, each stack or pile of textile windings must be compressed under the same pressure. This is because, if the pressure is not identical for each pile, the circulation of the dyeing bath, through the windings, becomes irregular which, of course, results in uneven dyeing of the different stacks or piles to the effect that defects in matching the dye in the same batch of windings becomes difficult. Accordingly, this again is a further disadvantage of the conventionally employed apparatus and process for dyeing of textile windings mounted on compressible supports.

Various means have been proposed to eliminate the disadvantages associated with such conventionally employed apparatus and processes but such proposals have not been wholly satisfactory. Thus, for example, while various proposals have been satisfactory for adequately compressing a single stack or pile of textile windings or for compressing bulk or loose textile materials for subsequent dyeing, no adequate apparatus or process has been devised which will adequately provide for the compression of a multiplicity of stacks or piles of textile windings so that even dyeing of the same can be effected in a simple and economical manner while allowing for great savings in time. Accordingly, it has long been the desire of the industry to provide such an apparatus or method which could produce such results by eliminating the inherent disadvantages of the conventionally employed systems.

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus has now been developed which can overcome the inherent deficiencies of previously employed systems as described above. Thus, it has been discovered, in accordance with the present invention, that the inherent disadvantages of conventionally employed apparatus and processes can be eliminated by providing a device or system including a pressing member such as employed, for example, in the compression of loose and bulk material or stacks or piles of textile windings for dyeing, together with a member which distributes a pressure uniformly over each of the stacks or piles of textile windings. Thus, by distributing the pressure uniformly and simultaneously over all of the stacks or piles of textile windings, a substantial saving of time is provided during the loading of the dyeing machine and more accurate and precise uniform dyeing of the textile windings occurs.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for the dyeing of textile windings mounted on compressible supports, which apparatus and process eliminate the inherent disadvantages and deficiencies of previously employed systems.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus employed in the dyeing of textile windings mounted on compressible supports, wherein such apparatus is effective to simultaneously press all of the stacks or piles of textile windings so as to provide an improvement in the time required for filling the dyeing apparatus, as well as an ability to obtain well-matched dyed windings.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such apparatus employed in the dyeing of textile windings mounted on compressible supports whereby the advantages over the prior an are achieved through the use of a pressing member, together with a member which distributes the pressure, in a uniform manner, over each of the stacks or piles of windings.

Still further objects and advantages of the apparatus of the present invention will become more apparent from the following more detailed description thereof.

As indicated above, the advantages of the apparatus of the present invention relate to an environment in which textile windings are mounted on compressible supports for subsequent dyeing in conventional dyeing apparatus. Thus, since the machines or apparatus now commercially utilized may comprise several dozens of clarinets" or bayonets it is necessary to repeat the loading operation several dozens of times with the result that a rather long and costly time period for loading is realized. Moreover, as previously described, since conventional apparatus provides for individual compression of the separate piles or stacks of textile windings, it is difficult to compress the same under exactly the same conditions with the result that certain uneveness in the shades of the same batch of windings occurs. This has been eliminated in ac cordance with the present invention whereby the pressing or compression of the piles or stacks of textile windings is effected simultaneously and uniformly on all of the piles to be subsequently dyed. Thus, the environment of the apparatus of the present invention relates to apparatus and processes for the compression of piles or stacks of textile windings mounted on compressible supports, i.e., cakes, cheeses" or packages, the winding-support units being themselves mounted on spindles affixed to the material support of a dyeing machine.

The apparatus necessary to carry out the above objects of the present invention comprises, in general, a pressing member and a pressure-distributing member formed of two metallic plates, upper and lower respectively, connected by rigid elements, the lower plate being provided with perforations over each of which is provided a guiding element. Additionally the apparatus can comprise cupping rings applicably situated on the top of the piles of windings and comprising a substantially flat ring-shaped surface with a large or outside diameter slightly larger than that of the windings and a small or inside diameter slightly larger than that of the spindles with a cylindrical tube being affixed perpendicularly to the flat surface and centered on the axis of the ring. Such cylindrical tube has a diameter between the small and large diameter of the ring and a height at least equal to the height of the guiding elements associated with each of the perforations in the lower plate of the pressure-distributing member. Such a means can additionally contain a further tube interiorly concentric with the first one and having a diameter substantially equal to the small diameter of the ring.

As a further element of the apparatus of the present invention, a means can be provided to lock each pile in the compressed state after uniform or even compression is effected through the combined employment of the pressing member and pressure-distributing means.

Such apparatus as generally described above is employed in accordance with the present invention to exert a strong pressure simultaneously on all of the piles or stacks of textile windings carried by the support of the treating machine, particularly a dyeing machine, such uniform and simultaneous pressure being applied by means of a single pressing member. Additionally, while the pressure is maintained, the position of the cupping rings which cap the compressed windings can be locked through means associated with the instant apparatus.

The apparatus of the present invention can be more fully understood by reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional half view of the apparatus of the present invention, showing only one pile or stack of windings for purposes of simplification;

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the pressure-distributing member of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of the pressure-distributing member at the level of the perforations of the lower plate.

In the various Figures, like numerals represent like elements.

In accordance with the present invention the pressing member 1 is of a type known per se, for example with a ringshaped pressing surface, for the pressing of fibers during loose or package dyeing. Such a pressure member or means, for example, is such as illustrated in French Pat. No. 1,184,855, employed for the dyeing of combed fibers with a device to apply a load on the fibers to be dyed. Such a means as illustrated in French Pat. No. 1,184,855 is one which permits a variation in the volume of the material to be dyed during the dyeing operation by the use of a cover load which may be adjusted by means of an automatic pressure device so that the pressure of application remains constant during the dyeing operation itself in case of variations of the volume of the material to be dyed. Such apparatus is conventionally employed in equipment for the dyeing of wadded, loose or bulk material. Such a pressing member, however, finds application in the apparatus of the present invention specifically adapted for the uniform and efi'rcient dyeing of a multiplicity of piles or stacks of textile windings.

In accordance with the present invention, the force applied by pressing member 1 is much higher than that used in the devices for pressing pile by pile, such pressure being generaliy in the order of 10 to 10 N.

With reference to FIG. 1, the pressure distributing member 2, which has a revolution form, comprises two plates, upper 3 and lower 4, respectively, connected by connecting means 5, such connecting means 5 being radial, plane, and perpendicular to the plates 3 and 4.

Upper plate 3 has a form adapted to that of the pressing surface I. On FIG. 1, this plate is in the shape of a ring or crown.

The lower plate 4, preferably circular, is provided with evenly spaced perforations or openings 6, as indicated on FIG. 2, corresponding to the number of spindles 7 affixed to the support 8 of a dyeing machine. These perforations or openings 6 are circular and have a diameter substantially larger than that of the spindles 7, but smaller than that of the windings. Over each perforation or opening 6 is, as indicated on FIG. 3, a means 9 to guide the distributing member 2 along the fixed spindles 7 or false spindles 14 which are removable. Such guiding means 9 are preferably in the form of a truncated cone of revolution, such guiding means being affixed to the lower plate 4 of distribution member 2 by its larger diameter, with its small diameter being larger than the diameter of the exterior tube or cups 10.

Each cup or cupping ring 10 comprises a ring-shaped metallic plate 101, which has a slightly curved-in outside edge to fit the shape of the winding top which it is capping. The inside edge of the plate 101 serves as a guiding element for the cupping ring, along false spindle 14 and spindle 7. Additionally, the guiding may be improved by placing a tube on the inside edge of plate 101. Similarly, a tube 102 may also be affixed on the ring for the guiding of the elements 9 of distributing member 2.

The apparatus according to the present invention operates as follows. Once the piles or stacks on the winding-support units have been slipped on the spindles 7, which are eventually extended with false spindles l4, and after placing the cupping rings 10 on the topmost windings of each pile, the pressure distributing member 2 is lowered slowly, for example through means of a pulley-block, above the support 8 of the machine. When the lower plate 4 touches the top of false spindles 14, the truncated cone elements 9 guide it, thus permitting, without any jerking, the passage of the top of false spindles 14 through the perforations provided therefor in plate 4. The pressure distributing member 2 is lowered further and placed on cupping ring 10. Then press I is actuated with a force of, for example, 7 l0 N on the distributing member 2, thus compressing the material to be treated to the desired degree. which is limited by the compressibility of supports 11. It thus may be possible, for example, to reduce the volume of material to half of its initial volume. While maintaining the material in the compressed state, false spindles 14, which are now unnecessary, are removed, and the position of cups 10 is locked by any appropriate means, such as, for example, clamping stoppers (not shown). Pressing member I and distributing member 2 are then raised; material support 8 is then sent to the machine on which the material will be treated and the dyeing effected.

While the apparatus of the present invention has been described above with respect to specific shapes and structures of the various elements comprising the same, it should be quite obvious that the various means making up the novel apparatus of the present invention can take a variety of other shapes while still being within the scope of the present invention. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the essential features comprise the conjoint employment of a pressing member or means of a known or conventional type, together with a member which distributes the pressure in a uniform manner on each pile or stack of textile windings. Thus, it is within the scope of the present invention to modify those means described above with other equivalent means capable of performing the same or similar function.

As indicated previously, the apparatus of the present invention have certain distinct advantages over conventionally employed systems for dyeing textile windings mounted on compressible supports. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the capacity of the dyeing machine is increased. For example, it has been found possible to dye, through the process of this invention, 252 windings in the same machine, as against before, i.e., an increase of 40 percent.

Moreover, the loading time is considerably reduced, so that in a plant, the number of machines which may operate is greater.

Finally, all conditions being otherwise equal, the use of the apparatus according to the invention results in a clear improvement in the matching of the shades obtained and in the appearance of the dyed windings.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for compressing a multiplicity of piles of textile windings mounted on spindles affixed to a material support of a dyeing machine, said apparatus comprising pressing means for applying pressure to said piles, and pressure distributing means disposed between said pressing means and said piles and including a lower, planar plate applying pressure to said piles, an upper, planar plate receiving pressure from said pressure means, and rigid means interconnecting said upper and lower plates whereby the pressure from said pressing means is uniformly and simultaneously distributed to said piles.

2. The apparatus of claim I wherein said lower plate has a plurality of openings therein and said spindles pass therethrough.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said openings has associated therewith a guiding means atop thereof so as to guide said spindles therethrough.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 additionally including cupping means atop each pile of textile windings, said cupping means being adapted to be contacted by said lower plate of said pressure distributing means to transmit the pressure to said piles and thereby compress the same.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cupping means comprises a substantially flat, ring-shaped surface having a large diameter slightly larger than that of said piles of textile to that of said guiding means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lower plate has a larger diameter than said upper plate, and said rigid means extends radially between the outer edges of said lower and upper plates. 

1. Apparatus for compressing a multiplicity of piles of textile windings mounted on spindles affixed to a material support of a dyeing machine, said apparatus comprising pressing means for applying pressure to said piles, and pressure distributing means disposed between said pressing means and said piles and including a lower, planar plate applying pressure to said piles, an upper, planar plate receiving pressure from said pressure means, and rigid means interconnecting said upper and lower plates whereby the pressure from said pressing means is uniformly and simultaneously distributed to said piles.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lower plate has a plurality of openings therein and said spindles pass therethrough.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said openings has associated therewith a guiding means atop thereof so as to guide said spindles therethrough.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 additionally including cupping means atop each pile of textile windings, said cupping means being adapted to be contacted by said lower plate of said pressure distributing means to transmit the pressure to said piles and thereby compress the same.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cupping means comprises a substantially flat, ring-shaped surface having a large diameter slightly larger than that of said piles of textile windings and a small diameter slightly larger than that of said spindles, and a cylindrical tube affixed perpendicularly to said flat surface and centered on the axis thereof, said cylindrical tube having a diameter size between the small and large diameter of the ring-shaped surface and a height at least equal to that of said guiding means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lower plate has a larger diameter than said upper plate, and said rigid means extends radially between the outer edges of said lower and upper plates. 